Nearly every printed or manuscript edition of the Declaration of Independence has slight differences in punctuation, capitalization, and even wording. To find out more about the diverse textual tradition of the Declaration, check out our Which Version is This, and Why Does it Matter? resource. As a declaration of independence, therefore, it is a mere historic document. Our independence is a fact so stupendous that it can be measured only by the size and energy and variety and wealth and power of one of the greatest nations in the world. But it is one thing to be independent and it is another thing to know what to do with your Abraham Lincoln speaks on the importance of the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence on July 10th, 1858. Read the transcript here. The path to independence has shaped nations, moved hearts, and changed the course of history. Behind every declaration of freedom stands a voice that speaks truth to power, articulates shared dreams, and sparks the flames of change. These voices have echoed through time, from town squares to parliament halls, carrying messages that still resonate today. These five speeches capture different A great independence speech reminds us how our country began and who we are. Here are our favorite Fourth of July speeches in transcript form. Read the transcript of the Declaration of Independence, as adopted in Congress on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the rough draft. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle Declaration of Independence, 17761 IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, Here are 15 speeches to inspire new vigor for our founding principles. Looking at who and what we were will help us remember who and what we ought to be. 1. Patrick Henry, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” 1775. Patrick Henry gave this speech in 1775 at the Virginia Convention. Introduction When John Quincy Adams was Secretary of State, he was invited to give a speech to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1821. The speech is most famous for the words “Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been unfurled, there will [America’s] heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. Title: The Inspiration of the Declaration Date: July 5, 1926 Location: Philadelphia, PA Context: A speech celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and key American values. August 17, 1858 On the Declaration of Independence From a Speech at Lewistown, Illinois Now, my countrymen, if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur, and mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are Declaration of Independence (1776) IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, Listen to the full text of the Declaration of Independence read by Bill Barker, who interprets Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Read along with the audio using the text below. The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. Unlike the other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful. Address in Independence Hall On Abraham Lincoln's inaugural journey to Washington as president-elect, he stopped in Philadelphia at the site where the Declaration of Independence had been signed. One of the most famous statements in the speech was, "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." This hall also was The Declaration of Independence shows a vigorous exercise of future First Amendment freedoms of speech and press, and paved the way for recognition of the right of petition. On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted Declaration of Independence: A Transcription Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) At an Independence Day celebration at historic Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1962, President Kennedy delivered an address on the importance of the Declaration of Independence to contemporary Americans. “To read it today,” he said, “is to hear a trumpet call. For that Declaration unleashed not merely a revolution against the British, but a revolution in human
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |